Strong competitions on the east coast add three more Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finalists to the list - Advance to Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals in Salt Lake City this September

This past weekend’s contests confirm there is no slowing down towards the end of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour season. Moorestown, New Jersey saw of a field of 101 skaters show up to battle it out for a spot in the Finals. Max Jenson (skate vert) and Chris Dziema (skate park) won their respective competitions Saturday, locking in their place on the Finals roster. On Sunday, Pro Town, USA proved to be unparalleled in talent and support for BMX for the second year running, with an overwhelming show of talent emerging BMX contest. Local Greenville BMX pros Colin Mackay, Diogo Canina, Mike Laird, and Dan Foley had the daunting task of narrowing down the field for the finals, but selectively chose some impressive riders to battle it out. In the end, Andrew Ahumada beat the odds to take the win and earn his spot in the finals in his last year of eligibility.

Skate vert victory

Twelve-year-old Jenson from Rye, N.H. earned the skate vert victory at Black Diamond, riding consistently and with good amplitude for the full 45 seconds in all of his runs. The young-gun unleashed a smooth 540 banger in the final jam session, securing his spot on top of the podium.

Dziema finally gets first place in skate park contest

In the skate park contest, 21-year-old Dziema from Parsippany, N.J. used his own course set-up and a series of huge tricks to claim the victory, including a big flip back disaster on the quarter pipe, a gap to noseblunt on the pyramid hubba, a 270 to boardslide on the smaller down rail, and a sick gap to boardslide off of the Gatorade feature, which Dziema set up himself to make the trick possible.

“I used to compete in Gatorade Free Flow contests all the time when I was younger, and I always used to get second and third place,” Dziema said. “This year when the age was raised to 21 I was psyched, since I turn 22 pretty soon. I figured I would give it another try because the contests are always a good time. I’m really psyched to finally go to the Finals!”

BMX park victory despite broken chain

Twenty-one-year-old Ahumada earned the BMX park victory on Sunday despite breaking his chain mid-run. Besides landing the first 360 downside triple tailwhip ever landed at Jaycee, Ahumada also ripped through the course with a flair whip, 360 whip over the spine, and flair 360. The high-level tricks he pulled at an amateur event stoked out the judges and crowd, giving him a clear path to the top.

“Gatorade put on a great contest today,” Ahumada said. “The vibe was really good, and I’m flat out stoked on the day.”

The rider came over to the US following the lead of fellow Australian, and last year’s Jaycee winner and overall Gatorade Free Flow Champion, Matt Whyatt. Whyatt, after dousing Ahumada in an ice bath post-win, expressed his support for Ahumada through the finals, and hopes his friend can take the title this year.

With the win, Jenson, Dziema and Ahumada all earn automatic bids into the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals that will take place at the Dew Tour’s Toyota Challenge, September 16-19, 2010 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Gatorade Free Flow Tour – Black Diamond Results Saturday, August 28, 2010 Moorestown, N.J.

Skate Vert

1. Max Jenson, Rye, N.H. 2. Jesse McDonald, West Orange, N.J. 3. Beaver Flemming, Loudon, Tenn

Skate Park

1. Chris Dziema, Parsippany, N.J. 2. Liam McCabe, Rumson, N.J. 3. Kevin Liedtke, Douglassville, Penn. 4. Chris Anderson, Red Bank, N.J. 5. Matt Goodwine, Salisbury Mills, N.Y.

BMX Park

1. Andrew Ahumada, Australia 2. Shanon Farrugia, Australia. 3. Mike Groff, Brick, N.J. 4. Dillon Leeper, Fredericksburg, Va. 5. Joseph Lee, Greenville, N.C.